A problem that has become more pronounced in recent months and that directly affects the automobile market is the semiconductor crisis. The lack of the product is harming large automakers and, as a result, the supply of cars and, of course, fleet management. Want to understand more about the situation? Let's explain.
It all started at the beginning of the pandemic, when there was a slowdown in vehicle production, including the closure of factories. As a result, automakers suspended orders for the semiconductors used in vehicles.
As they are materials capable of conducting electric currents, semiconductors are not only used in cars, but also in electronic devices such as smartphones, televisions, video games and computers. This variety of applications was another aggravating factor.
That's because while demand plummeted on the part of vehicle assemblers, the search for the item grew in other markets. Therefore, production was directed to other segments.
To make matters worse, in March of this year, a fire broke out at the Renesas Electronics chip factory in Japan. The factory, which accounts for 30% of world production of the material, caught fire due to an electrical overload, further accentuating the global shortage of semiconductors.
Semiconductor industries fail to meet demand
When the automobile industry increased the pace of production again and ordered the material again, demand from semiconductor factories was very high due to other markets and impacted by the consequences of the fire.
Therefore, the shortage of semiconductors has become inevitable in the automobile sector. The press has been reporting that large automakers, such as Volkswagen, Chevrolet, GM, Honda and Volvo, have suspended their production, with a lack of components, especially semiconductors, being one of the main reasons. The consequences, without a doubt, are many and also impact fleet management.
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How much does the crisis affect fleet management?
With the semiconductor crisis, fleet management ends up facing the problem of a lack of vehicles. The rental market, for example, despite being heated, suffers from the delivery of vehicles, since automakers face a lack of inputs.
Projections by the Brazilian Association of Automobile Manufacturers point out that in 2021 there should be between 380 and 400 thousand cars purchased. At a normal market pace, this number would reach 800 vehicles. In practice, there will be a much lower turnover of cars in fleets.
As a result, the manager is faced with an aging fleet. Before the pandemic, the average “age” of vehicles was around 14 and 15 months. Currently, it has arrived in 20 months. And there's no way around it, because the recovery forecast for changing cars depends on the supply of inputs.
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The fleet manager must be aware of reality and look for ways to deal with the situation efficiently. The available vehicular technologies are becoming more and more essential, as they offer the manager detailed and extremely relevant information, allowing the assessment of the “behavior” of the fleet – in this case, an aging one due to the reality faced – and taking the appropriate measures.
A vehicle telemetry da Golfleet, for example, offers vast information reports, providing all the necessary support for the manager's decision-making, to conduct this moment with economy, security and organization.
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Is there a perspective for the end of the semiconductor crisis?
The risk classification agency Fitch Ratings pointed out that the semiconductor crisis and the supply problem should continue in the second half of the year. More optimistic perspectives point out that the automobile market may return to operating closer to normality only in the second quarter of 2022 or perhaps in 2023.
Until then, fleet managers and professionals in the automotive market will suffer the impacts of the situation, seeking to come out of it stronger. Out there, how are you dodging the semiconductor crisis?
